This document discusses different narrative structures and theories of narrative. It describes linear narratives as having a clear beginning, middle, and end, while circular narratives end where they begin. The document outlines Todorov's narrative theory of equilibrium being disrupted, then recognized and resolved to restore equilibrium. It also mentions Vladimir Propp's identification of character roles and functions that move stories along. The document analyzes different narrative codes and binary oppositions in stories. It concludes with an example applying Todorov's theory to the plot structure of the film Sweeney Todd.

1. Narrative
Investigation
Kat Scott

2. Narrative is the way in which a story is told and presented to an
audience.
There different structures of narrative such as linear and circular.
Linear: A linear narrative structure means there is a clear
beginning, middle and end. Aristotle identified the basic linear
line and saw how the middle section may involve a crisis which
is then resolved at the end of the story.
Circular: Circular narrative structures is when the beginning of
the story ends in the same place. An example of this would be the
film ‘Fight Club’ and ‘The Hangover’.
What is narrative?

3. Todorov: Todorov’s narrative theory states that a narrative will follow the structure:
Equilibrium – the beginning of the narrative starts out normal
Disequilibrium – a disruption occurs in the narrative causing disequilibrium
Recognition – Recognition of the disruption
Resolution – A plan is made to solve the disequilibrium
Restoration – Restoration of the equilibrium, the story returns back to the beginning
Vladimir Propp: Propp identified that every narrative has eight character roles – villain, hero, donor, helper, princess,
father, dispatcher, false hero. He also discovered that there are 31 functions which moves the story along such as
punishment of a villain or some kind of banishment.
Barthes – suggests that narratives work with five different codes that activate the reader to make sense of it:
1. Action
2. Enigma –narrative device that teases audience by presenting puzzle/riddle to delay storys ending
3. Symbolic
4.Semic
5. Cultural – narrative devise which the audience can recognise as being a partof a culture e.g. ‘made man’ in a
gangster film is part of mafia culture
Levi Strauss :Came up with the theory of binary opposition and that every character/group has one. E.g native
americans – cowboy, old – young, girl – boy, weak –strong etc.
Narrative Theorists

4. Todorov’s theory can be applied to many horror films such as Sweeny
Todd.
1. The protagonist (Benjamin Baker) returns to London after his arrest 15
years ago. Hoping to return to a normal life and identity (Sweeny
Todd) EQUILIBRIUM
2. On arrival he learns that his wife had poisoned herself with arsenic
after the judge raped her. He then learns also that Judge Turpin is the
legal gaurdian to his teenage daughter. DISRUPTION +
RECOGNITION
3. Todd opens a barber shop and tries to continue with his life. He
becomes very restless and finds he has a chance to kill Judge Turpin
and rescue his teenage daughter RESOLUTION
4. Todd then claims his daughter back and is reunited with his wife whom
he formally thought was a beggar, she is then killed and there is a
RESTORATION
Applying Todorov’s
Theory To Current films